Snap Judgments: Conclusions Based on Playing Time at Denver
Any question about whether Derrick Henry’s role in the Tennessee Titans’ offense would be reduced in any way this season was answered with authority in the season opener.
The NFL’s 2019 rushing champion was on the field for 61 of the Titans’ 81 snaps on offense. That was the second highest total of his career and at least 14 more than in any game last season. It also was the sixth time in his career – the fifth in his last 15 games – that he lined up for at least three-quarters of the offense’s plays.
“That was what was required in the game, and we felt like that was where Derrick was at physically, condition-wise,” coach Mike Vrabel said Thursday. “That may change each and every week. But Derrick, he’s not going to be on any kind of a pitch count. He gets himself in great condition. He understands the responsibility he has to the team to be able to sometimes carry it as many times as he did on Monday night.”
It is not as if Henry had it easy when he was on the field either.
His 31 rushing attempts led all NFL players in Week 1 (no one else had more than 25). Plus, he caught three passes, which meant he ended up with the ball in his hands 55.7 percent of the time he was on the field.
The majority of his runs (20 of them) came on first down and all 31 took place when the score was either tied (21) or the Titans were behind (10).
If anyone thought the Titans would try to lighten Henry’s load after he led the NFL in rushing attempts and finished fifth in touches, think again.
Other conclusions based on playing time against the Broncos:
• Jadeveon Clowney might have arrived late, but he showed up in shape. Vrabel said conditioning would go a long way toward determining Clowney’s playing time, and then the free agent defensive end played 80 percent of the snaps on defense (47 of 59). Among players on the front seven, only inside linebacker Jayon Brown and outside linebacker Harold Landry saw more action. Once he gets a better understanding of the scheme, Clowney is likely to be a fixture on the defensive front.
• It took more than one player to replace cornerback Adoreé Jackson, who was put on injured reserve prior to the game because of a knee injury. None of the cornerbacks played every snap on defense, but Malcolm Butler – predictably – came close (57 of 59). Beyond that, veteran free agent Johnathan Joseph, who started in Jackson’s place, logged 44 snaps, rookie Chris Jackson played 35 and another rookie, Kristian Fulton, played 24. Typically, the four starters in the secondary play all – or almost all – of the snaps on defense.
• The decision to sign inside linebacker Will Compton just before the end of training camp was a shrewd one that paid big dividends. Compton’s familiarity with the operation (he played for Tennessee in 2018) was a factor in that decision, and when Rashaan Evans was ejected in the first quarter, Compton stepped in. He played 26 snaps on defense and was credited with three tackles.
• As expected, free agent tackle Ty Sambrailo is the new Dennis Kelly. With Kelly the starter at right tackle, Sambrailo is now the third tackle, who can fill in on either side. He played 11 snaps at left tackle when Taylor Lewan briefly was out with an injury.
• In all of the talk about core special teams players this offseason, Senorise Perry was not a prominent name. He should have been. A running back who has 11 career carries over six years got 14 special teams snaps against the Broncos. That was the most by any Tennessee player used exclusively on special teams and fourth among all Titans.
